You Are My Sunshine

It happened again. For the 44th time. I had another birthday and I am extremely thankful to have another one. We celebrated on Mothers Day with a delicious meal cooked by my son and daughter in law at their home. Ray and the kids spoiled me with flowers and charms for my Pandora Bracelet and we all had lunch together again the next day. These are my most favorite people in the world and how blessed I am that they call me Mommy or Mah, or Nay or Jannie or just Jana.Sorry that Ray isn't pictured, someone had to take the picture.

My brother and his wife sent me one of the best gifts I have ever gotten. It was a video in my e-mail of my nephew and niece singing Happy Birthday to me and singing other awesome songs to, like You Are My Sunshine. And my new niece was in the video though at one month old, she's not singing yet.It made me cry and I have probably watched it over 15 times so far. When Kissy came over the next day, I showed it to her and she loved it. She now asks for it and here are some photos of her watching it.
There they are on the computer singing and she is loving it. Her smile is huge. Wait til you see below.
This is the face she makes when Baby Charley makes a little cry. She's really worried about her.
And this is the HUGE smile she has when Gracie is singing You Are My Sunshine. I love it and I love my family so much!
This is the first cookie cake I have ever gotten that didn't say "JANA". Rachel had them put my Grandmother name on it and I think it's just perfect!

There's No Place Like Home

Though, I have never lived in this house and it's not the house I grew up in, it's like going home. If the saying is true, "home is where your heart is", then it's one of my homes, for none other than, My Mom and Dad live here. I didn't get to choose them and they didn't get to choose me. I think Jesus did an outstanding job of putting us together!
Their yard and all their plants are beautiful! My Mom has always had a green thumb with anything and spring time definantly shows off all her hard work. Their grass is really fun to walk in when your're barefooted. No stickers at all!
Aren't they just the cutest with one of their good looking Grandsons?( he just so happens to be my baby boy!) They are blessed with one son, one daughter, one son in law, one daughter in law, three Grandsons, three Grandaughters and one Great-Grandaughter and they have been married FOR EVER! Not really, just Fifty years! Seems like forever to me since they've been together since I was born! And they have more friends than anyone else I know. We can't go ANYWHERE in their town without them knowing someone there. It's funny.
See? I was barefooted? These are my feet as I wait on the curb for the.........................................
ICE CREAM MAN!!

I love this about their neighborhood. I heard the music, grabbed my purse, the camera and hollered for everyone to come!!! ( reminds me of being a little girl)
He has a great selection and although it was almost dinner time, we all got some kind of ice cream and it DIDN'T ruin our dinner. ( whoever told us that was way wrong)
She likes her "horse-slobber"bar. That's what Daddy used to call these with the kids when they were little. The name stuck.
Z chose one of their specialty ice cream pops. The ice cream man said it was the first day they were selling them and we were the first to buy it. Of course, he said this, after the purchase but, it was a good taste for Z.( and no, his ear lobes are not bleeding)
Daddy got an orange cream 'sicle. I tried it too, it was good. I went for the traditionally plain chocolate fudge bar. I don't venture out much on ice cream flavors. Like to play it safe.
His bar had super powers of turning his tongue every color in the rainbow all at the same time.
The next door neighbor's Doggy even came over hoping for some desert!
What a blessing to spend a little extra time with the people who love us more than anyone else in the world ( besides Jesus, of course) and the feeling is completely mutual. They are the best and we all love them and then we miss them when it's time to come home.

If I Knew You were Coming I'd Have Baked a Cake

My Daughter-in-law was having a birthday. Not just any birthday. Her 25th. Quarter of a century.I was going to make a birthday lunch for her and what birthday meal is ever complete without a cake? But, I know she LOVES cheesecake. So, I thought I would go buy one.

Then I remembered I have a cheesecake pan. I have never used it. Apparently I think that making a cheesecake from scratch is reserved for Professional Cooks. ( and I usually most always take the easy road for cooking, like box mixes for instance) And also I was a little intimidated by that pan. I have no idea why. It has never been used. I think we got it as a wedding gift, ummmm 26 plus years ago.

But, in my wanting to bless her on her birthday I decided to get out that pan and find a recipe and take on the challenge. I found a recipe I liked in a Southern Living Christmas Cookbook. It's called Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake. All three of those words make me hungry.
Above are all the ingredients you needed. Cream Cheese, eggs, butter, oreos, sugar,vanilla, heavy cream and chocolate chunks. And that good 'ole cheesecake pan sitting all so lonely over the years in the cupboard. You need a good mixer like the NICE Kitchen Aid pictured below. It belongs to my daughter but, she's sweet enough to let me use it when needed.

First step, was the coarsely chop about 20 of the oreos, which I enjoyed doing with my HUGE knife. A lovely Christmas gift one year from my Brother. My oldest son just sharpened all my knives and I have nearly cut off my fingers many times. But, thankfully, all my appendages are accounted for.
This picture is just to scare ya. Boo! I spent most of my time this afternoon popping in and out of my youngest sons room looking like this. Don't worry though, he's 17, passed the age of being scared of his Mommy.
After I crushed the cookies, I mixed it with some melted butter and that made the crust of the cheesecake. I did have a lovely assistant helping me. It took a while to set up these cooking pictures. ( harder than we thought)

Me.......* do it slower, I can't get a clear shot*

Her.....* you're being too picky, this bowl is hot, I'm just gonna dump it in*

Me......*lets re-d0 this one*

Her......* you are strange*

Me......* it's for my bbllllooooogggg*
Same rolling pin we got at our wedding shower in October of 1983. Practically an antique.After mixing all the cream cheese, she adds the sugar.
Then the four large eggs but, slowly one at a time.

And these are the ingredients that put the cheesecake over the top. The chunks of chocolate, the chopped oreos and what desert is worth a flip without some vanilla extract? Yum!

Sometimes when I wear the mask, it makes her want to wear it too. She was stirring and wearing and wearing and stirring. But, ever so gently. We couldn't wait to lick the bowl and the spatula. Yes, even though there were raw eggs in the batter. It would be worth it to us if we got some sickness form it. Totally worth it.
Into the pan. Oh, if pans could talk, I know this one was excited!! Used for the first time...EVER!!
But, now I can't lick the spatula with my mask on. The holes are too small. I am just devastated.
Oh there, I got some. Just a little though, this mask is a great dieting idea. Maybe I could market it. Eat whatever fits through this little hole and you'll lose pounds like crazy. No, not going to do it. Reminds me of being wired shut too much and drinking everything through a straw. * big breath* and that's a WHOLE other story.
Look at all these dirty dishes.

Who will wash them? Hello? Where did everyone

go? Somebody want to help?

Who am I kidding? I'll get to them later!
And the cheesecake is finished and the house smells terrific! Now, if we can just wait until tomorrow to taste it.
We did it. We waited and she was thrilled with her Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake Birthday Cake. It really was rich an yummy and enjoyed by everyone. (even the littlest Hanselwoman)

Give My Regards to Broadway

The Hanselwomen went to the Theatre!

This was Kissy's very first Broadway show and we talked all day about seeing the BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

We practiced our scared face ( bottom left) just in case. But, she didn't need to use that face at all. She was a perfect little patron of the theatre. When they finished the big numbers, she would turn to us and say, "more, more"! She also thought her Daddy was one of them!

I have had a love of the Theatre and musicals since the first time I saw MARY POPPINS and CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG. There's something that gets me really excited from the first note of the band's Overture to the last curtain call. I don't think I have ever been to one that at some time during the show, I haven't started to cry. Not, sad crying but, the kind of crying you have when music touches your soul. Or the kind of tears and chill bumps when a chord is sung by 20 awesome singers accompanied by an orchestra. Our kids all have this love and I am glad it has passed down. I have a small list of all the musicals I've seen and I would love to add more to it as the years go by. ( it's not a bad list coming from a Tallahassee gal) Here I go. This list is mainly for myself so, I can remember as I age.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA ( twice in NY)

MISS SAIGON (NY)

LES MISERABLES (NY)

THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL (NY)

CABARET (NY)
THE LION KING(NY)
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN(NY)
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER ( touring here in Tally)

CATS (Tally)
MY FAIR LADY(Tally)
FOSSE ( Tally)
JEKYELL & HYDE ( Tally)
FOOTLOOSE ( Tally)
SHOW BOAT( Tally)
CHICAGO( Tally)
THE PRODUCERS (Tally)
CINDERELLA(Tally)

OKLAHOMA(Tally)

INTO THE WOODS (Tally)
BEAUTY & THE BEAST( Tally)

FAME (Tally)

Another list would be the ones that my First Born Son has been in and we have seen locally:

CAROUSEL
SOUTH PACIFIC
YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN

SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD

THE FANTASTIKS

PIPPIN

A NEW BRAIN( ok, we didn't go to this one...bad parent award for the year.)

DAMN YANKEES

JESUS CHRIST, SUPERSTAR(ok, we missed this one too....I'm so ashamed.)

Tiny Dancer

I told my grandprincess that we were going to take a walk and see all the pretty flowers in the neighborhood and take pictures. She said, "oh-tay". So, we fixed her hair, put on a pretty dress and then she had to do her make-up. She had this little tube of lotion and was so serious about getting it all over her pretty little face.
So you think she's seen this done before? She takes her beauty very seriously. I love it!
We took her little chair with us but, that turned out to be a bummer for me to carry as she really wasn't so interested in having her photos made this morning. But, they are still really cute to me. We found these white azaleas first.
I have to share this one because that face she is making is all her Daddy when he was little. He basically had that look on his face for years. It is a carbon copy and it just makes me smile.
A pinecone was way more interesting to her. We had to bring it back home with us. Look how she matches the flowers with her dress. This hot pink color is my favorite and in Tallahassee right now, they are everwhere! ( except our yard)

I believe this is the only shot that she looked at me! Notice the deep burgundy on these. Just gorgeous!
These light pink ones are all over our neighborhood. ( with the exception of our yard...again)
And back to the white ones which seem to hold her attention more than the others. She's still the prettiest whether she's looking at the camera or not!
Saved this one for last as it was getting time for a nap! But, that little tired face is so kissable! And she to me is the prettiest flower of them all!